sub in (for someone or something)
sub in (for someone or something)
1. To act as a substitute for someone or something. ("Sub" is an abbreviation of "substitute.") Eric is going to be in the hospital for the next few days recovering from his surgery, so I'll be subbing in. Don't believe anyone who tries to convince you that low-fat cooking sprays can sub in for butter or oil without affecting the taste of your food.
2. To use, employ, or instruct someone or something to act as a substitute for someone or something else. In this usage, a noun or pronoun is used between "sub" and "in." With a healthy 30-point lead, the coach subbed the rookie quarterback in to give him some experience on the field. Let's try subbing a placebo in for the active ingredient and see if it changes the outcome.
See also: someone, sub
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- substitute for
- substitute for (someone or something)
- sub for
- sub for (someone or something)
- in place of
- in place of (someone or something)
- in place of somebody/something
- replace (someone or something) by (someone or something)
- replace (someone or something) with (someone or something)
- replace by